Blog Assignment # 4 Part 1

1. Religion has  served as a basis for morality for many years, and for many people provides a foundation for morals and virtues. However, one does not have to have religious to be considered moral; an atheistic person can be as moral as a Baptist. The opposite is also true; just because someone is religious does not make them moral. The priest scandals in the Catholic church serve as a great example of this, as well as Christians condemning other non-Christians which is not "loving thy neighbor".  Thus, religion can provide a basis for morality and has served as the reasoning behind many laws in this country (I.E. the prohibition of gay marriage), but it is not necessary to have a connection between morality and religion.


2.This Jewish website gave the opposite perspective from my argument. From a Jewish standpoint, a person who is without God but kind-hearted is still missing a vital spiritual element. They believe that you cannot disconnect morals and religion, but that a person can still be a good human being without it. The website supported my argument that a person who commits their life to God, but does not treat others benevolently is giving "empty service".
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/145404/jewish/Ethics-Religion.htm

3. Conclusion: Religious beliefs and ethics are complementary to each other.

Premises:
(1)Religion has provided the basis for many morals and laws.
(2)Religious people would argue that without a higher being, one would be missing the spiritual component of a morally fulfilled life.
(3)The Bible has many lessons and morals that religious and non-religious people would consider ethical.

Conclusion: Religious beliefs and ethics are not complementary to each other.

Premises:
(1) Atheistic people are not always immoral.
(2) Religious people are not always moral.
(3) There is a danger of intolerance if religion was the only basis for ethics.
(4) There are several different religions which would make it difficult to choose which one as an ethical foundation.